How to Get a Second Passport

A second passport is the exception to the rule. The general policy is that "no person shall bear or be in possession of more than one valid or potentially valid passport of the same type at any one time." There are a couple of circumstances in which a second passport is authorized by the United States Bureau of Consular Affairs.

1. You need a second passport if you plan to visit a country that will deny a visa due to the fact that your passport contains markings or visas showing you traveled to certain other countries.

2. You need a passport for immediate travel because of delays in getting a travel visa or some other foreign governmental process that required you to submit your passport.

a. There are rare situations in which travelers are granted more than one "second" passport.

b. A second passport is only issued if you are unable to complete your travel through a change of itinerary or you cannot cancel your current passport in order to obtain a new one.

There are a couple of circumstances in which the issuance of another passport is not considered a valid second passport.

1. A passport that is issued to replace one that is temporarily unavailable. It could be that your passport is locked in a safety deposit box or packed for moving. In this case, you have to submit the form for a lost passport and apply for a new one.

2. A passport that is issued to replace one that was lost by a foreign embassy or consulate in the process of obtaining a visa. Again, you have to submit the form for a lost or stolen passport and apply for a new one.

The validity of a second passport is limited to two years and cannot be extended.

How to Apply for a Second Passport

You need to submit the following items in order to apply for a second valid passport by mail.

If you not currently have an SSN then youo should fill in the passport application SSN box #5 with zeros. You MUST also fill out and sign the SSN Declaration and submit it with the passport application. Absence of the form will result in a delay of passport adjudication.

Provide a formal written statement from your employer,on company letterhead, justifying the need for a second passport and stating the bearer's understanding that any loss or theft of either passport will be reported immediately to the nearest Consulate, Embassy, or passport agency.

5. Submit Evidence of U.S. Citizenship and Identity.

Your previously-issued, valid and undamaged passport can be submitted for this purpose. If you will need your passport during the application process, you can submit the original or a certified copy of your birth certificate.